by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

East Rutherford, NJ — Holdingallthecards and driver Tim Tetrick moved to the lead on the backstretch and completed a sweep of the Clyde Hirt series for 4-year-old male pacers, capturing the $67,400 final in 1:51.1 on Saturday night (Jan. 26) at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Lisa photo

Holdingallthecards swept the Clyde Hirt series with a 1:51.1 score in the final.

After settling in third during an opening quarter-mile of :26.1, Tetrick moved Holdingallthecards to the front, overtaking early leader Ethan Hanover prior to the halfway point in :55.2.

Holdingallthecards, who started from post No. 1, was never threatened from there. Man He Can Skoot finished second, 1-1/4 lengths back of the winner, while Mr Dennis and One Through Ten finished in a dead heat for third.

“I got a good middle half, but early there I used my gate speed and made sure I wasn’t going to get locked in,” Tetrick said. “When the pace slowed, I went ahead and moved him to the front and my horse did the rest from there.”

A son of Cam’s Card Shark-Ivory Tower, Holdingallthecards is 4-for-4 this year, including his three wins in the Clyde Hirt series, with earnings of $56,700. He has won 16 of 25 lifetime starts, good for $118,035.

Trained by Scott DiDomenico, the gelding is owned by Wisconsin’s William McIntyre, who purchased the horse last June.

“I was just hoping he would be competitive,” McIntyre said. “I’m real proud of him.”

Next up for Holdingallthecards is the Exit 16W series at the Meadowlands.

“He’s a very nice horse,” Tetrick said. “He’s good gaited, he’s got plenty of speed and he’s very smart. All of those qualities add up. Who knows what he can do.”

Holdingallthecards paid $3.60 to win.